20 March 2016
The issue
Approximately 250,000 to 350,000 New Zealanders, residing in Australia, are denied access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), despite being required to pay the NDIS levy.
NDIS services are restricted to Australian citizens, permanent residents and Protected Special Category Visa-holders. New Zealanders residing in Australia as Special Category Visa-holders (SCV) are temporary residents under the Migration Act.
Children born in Australia to two non-protected SCV New Zealand citizen parents are not granted Australian citizenship at birth. They are denied any care required under the NDIS until they reach the age of ten, when they will be eligible for Australian citizenship
How you can help
Contact the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Families and Social Services.
You can also email a PDF of your letter to the New Zealand Minister for Disability Issues and Minister of Health.
Explain how not being eligible for NDIS services affects your family. Ask what their position is on allowing all New Zealanders residing in Australia to access NDIS services. You can:
- write to them using our NDIS letter template
- meet with them, or a staff member, at their electorate office
- speak to them at a mobile office or public event
- call their electorate office or Parliament House office
- message them via email or their website
- post a comment on their Facebook or Twitter
Resources
Find your Federal electorate
Find the contact details for a Federal MP or Senator
Download our NDIS letter template
Include a copy of the Oz Kiwi Rights Comparison Table March 2016 with your letter or email
Include a copy of the Oz Kiwi Policy Options Paper with your letter or email
Download our follow up letter template if you get no reply or no clear answer your questions
Donate
Oz Kiwi is run by volunteers and entirely funded by public donations. Please consider donating to help Oz Kiwi advocate on behalf of New Zealanders living in Australia.
Thank you for your support.
